Ghardaia is one of the unique Saharan cities from an architectural, urban and environmental point of view, situated in the center of the Northern part of the Sahara. The M’Zab valley reaches up to Ghardaia with an altitude of 500 meters. It is in the hollow of Oued M’Zab, a long valley on the edge of the Sahara built on rocky peaks, that the pentapole was erected. It is a cluster of 5 towns namely : Ghardaia, Melika, Beni Isguen, Bou Noura and El-Atteuf. Each of these five (05) towns is surrounded by hills ravaged by rain erosion. The city was inscribed under the UNESCO world heritage list in 1982.
Roaming around the city of Ghardaia will help you to discover and admire the peculiar architecture of the Ksours imposed by the rigor due to the social ideal of rationality and functionality that is dictated by the harshness of the environment.
You are going to leave the modern world behind by exploring the old towns of the M’Zab Valley and meet with the authenticity of another world with another atmosphere. It is a place where you are going to experience the world of souks, narrow cobbled streets, small shops and traditionally dressed men and women of all ages.